Container opening and closing device

ABSTRACT

A device for opening and removing the lid from a container, where the lid includes an outer annular portion depending from the outer edges of the lid that defines an upwardly opening annular channel. A substantially cylindrical body has extending radially therefrom members for opening and closing the subject containers. Each member at the terminus thereof has a portion to be disposed between the outer wall of the lid and the receiving portion of the container. The bottom portion of each leg has depended therefrom members for applying a downwardly directed force upon the outer edges of the container lid. The radially depending members apply equal force to the edge of the lid, the total force applied upon the lid being equally distributed among each radial member.

United States Patent Massaro [54] CONTAINER OPENING AND CLOSING DEVICE [72] Inventor: Robert D. Massaro, 225 S. Hamilton, Beverly Hills, Calif. 9021 l [22] Filed: June 26, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 50,120

[52] US. Cl ..7/l4.6 [51] Int. Cl ..B25f l/00, B67b 7/44 [58] Field of Search ..7/14.6, l; 100/54, 61; 248/1887 [56] V References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,526,380 9/1970 Tong ..248/l88.7 X 3,391,886 7/1968 Schulz ..248/l88.7 X 2,653,000 9/1953 Cadwell et a]. .....248/l88.7 X 934,237 9/1909 Tolman ..8l/3.46 A 1,175,721 3/1916 Dexter ..8l/3.46 A X 1,620,262 3/1927 Klaboe 145/50 UX [451 Aug. 15, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 322,5l l 7/1957 Switzerland ..248/l 88.7

Primary Examiner-James L. Jones, Jr. Attorney-Spensley, Horn and Lubitz ABSTRACT A device for opening and removing the lid from a container, where the lid includes an outer annular portion depending from the outer edges of the lid that defines an upwardly opening annular channel. A substantially cylindrical body has extending radially therefrom members for opening and closing the subject containers. Each member at the terminus thereof has a portion to be disposed between the outer wall of the lid and the receiving portion of the container. The bottom portion of each leg has depended therefrom members for applying a downwardly directed force upon the outer edges of the container lid. The radially depending members apply equal force to the edge of the lid, the total force applied upon the lid being equally distributed among each radial member.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures P'A'TENTEDAus 15 I972 0.0 MW WV N 5 L 0 M 4 N% Mm 4 1 3 E w 3% w a w CONTAINER OPENING AND CLOSING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention container opening and closing device is generally related to capping and recapping devices and, more specifically, to those containers employing a lid having upwardly depending outer portions defining an upwardly opening annular channel therebetween.

2. Prior Art Containers amenable to the use of the present invention device are commonly used in marketing such products as paint or other like liquids. Paint containers are often opened and closed many times, and where such is the case, the lid is securely fastened each time it is closed. The result of frequent opening and closing is that paint becomes lodged in the annular channel at the periphery of the paint container and upon drying makes it extremely difficult to open or close the can at a later time. As a result, subsequent attempts to remove the lid from the container are more difficult and if a screwdriver or similar prying tool is utilized in an attempt to remove the lid, the prying tool is generally capable of engaging only a very narrow portion of the outer periphery of the lid typically bending the outwardly projecting lip portion of the lid upwardly thereby deforming same. When the lid of the container is to be replaced to provide for subsequent use of the contents of the container, the devices disclosed by the prior art for achieving such closure leave substantial problems unresolved. Since paint will typically dry within the receiving annular channel at the top portion of the paint container, the force needed to close the container is considerable. The typical method employed to close the container is to apply a sharp force at The present invention container opening and closing device substantially resolves those problems left unresolved by the devices disclosed by the prior art. For opening paint or other like containers, radially extending leg members have end portions thereof adapted to apply equal force over a suitable arc of the outer edge of the container lid. To accomplish this, the outer edge has a concave indentation, each leg of the present invention having a suitable radius adapted to different size containers. In addition, the outer edge is tapered to provide for insertion between the container wall and the outer edge of the container lid. To provide for closure of the container lids, the bottom surface of the points around the periphery of the lid. This is generally done by a hammer or other striking tool. As with the prior method used to open container lids, striking individual points along the periphery of the lid will typically result in defonnation of the outer portion of the lid with resultant damage thereto.

A device disclosed by the prior art utilized to remove and replace lids from containers such as that used to store paint and other like liquids attempted to solve the problem of resulting damage to the container lids during the opening and closing operations. The device employs a cylindrical forcing member for bearing upon the top portion of the container lid and combines therewith hook members to permit opening of the container lid. The device disclosed by the prior art requires complex members to provide the force necessary to open or close the container lid. A handle is required to exert pressure against a compression spring which forces the cylindrical forcing member downward to close the can. The combination of the handle, compression spring and associated equipment is needed to provide the force necessary to open the container lid.

The device disclosed by the prior art leaves specific problems unresolved. Since the containers for paint and other assorted liquids come in various standard sizes, namely, gallons, quarts, pints and half-pints, an efficient device must be usable with containers of all sizes. The device disclosed by the prior art has a fixed size cylinder and only a limited adjustment for the lifting hook members. As a result, the device disclosed by the prior art is limited in its use.

radial leg members have extensions thereon suitable for applying equal, downward forces upon several predetermined positions about the periphery of the container lid. In addition, the present invention container opening and closing device is adapted to be used with containers of standard size from one-half pint to 1 gallon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for effectively removing and replacing the lid of a container without rendering damage to the lid.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device to open a container lid by engaging the outwardly projecting lip portion of the lid of a container along a predetermined length of arc.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a device having on the underportion thereof means for being aligned with and bearing upon the upwardly opening annular channel at the outer portion of the container lid.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a device for closing a container lid which applies an equal downward force upon predetermined points along the circumference of the container lid.

It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a device for opening and closing the lid of paint containers which is inexpensive to fabricate.

The present invention container opening and closing device combines in a single tool means to open and close containers of the type having an outer annular partial top wall defining an opening with the inner peripheral edge portion of the top wall defining an upwardly opening annular groove and provided with a removeable lid for closing the opening which includes an outer annular portion depending from the outer edges of the lid that defines an upwardly opening annular channel with its lower surfaces receivable in the groove formed in the annular partial top wall of the container and including an outer outwardly projecting lip portion by which the lid may be removed from engagement with the partial top wall. An axial hub member has radial leg portions extending therefrom the radially extending legs being placed at equal angular intervals about the axial hub. The terminal point of each radial leg is adapted to provide means for opening a paint or like container employing a lid as described hereinabove. The edge of each radial leg has a concave indentation therein, the indentation being a predetermined radius. The radius of each indentation provides a suitable interface between the undersurface of the projecting lip portion of the lid and the present invention device. By providing the concave indentation of predetermined radius, the edge of the present invention device contacting the undersurface of the projecting lip will do so along a predetermined length of arc applying a substantially equal upward force along the portion of are thereby reducing the possibility of damage to the container or lid by reducing the force per unit of arc length; In addition, each radial leg is tapered at its terminus, the apex thereof being concave to permit the edge of the radial leg to be more easily inserted beneath the projecting lip portion of the lid.

To close the lid of paint containers or containers holding other like liquids, the bottom portion of the radial legs are adapted to impose an equal, downwardly directed force at given portions of the container lid. Since containers come in various sizes, namely, gallon, quart, pint and half-pint, an efficient device must be adapted to be applied to all sizes. The bottom surface of each radial leg has like portions thereon adapted to be received by either the upwardly opening annular channel at the outer edge of the container lid or by the top of one or more of the upwardly depending portions at the outer edge of the container lid. The radial legs of the present invention device are received by the appropriate portions of the lid, and by applying force to the axial hub of the present invention device, an equal, downwardly directed force is applied to the lid, causing it to be engaged with the partial top wall of the container.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration and description only, and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a form of the present invention container opening and closing device shown mounted on a container.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the form of the present invention shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a radial leg of a form of the present invention taken through line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of a container and lid therefor receiving a form of the present invention within the upwardly opening annular channel of the lid.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a container and lid therefor illustrating a portion of a radial leg in place for closing same.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An understanding of the present invention container opening and closing device can be best gained by reference to FIG. 1 wherein a form of the present invention device, generally designated by the reference numeral is shown mounted on a container and lid 21 therefor. Axial hub 11 is the base of opening and closing device 10, legs 12 extending radially therefrom. Radial legs 12 are spaced at equal angular intervals about the axial hub 11, FIG. 1 illustrating a device 10 having three radial legs, the number shown being for the purpose of illustration only. Radial legs 12 are separated by equal angular intervals in order to provide equal, downwardly directed forces upon lid 18 of container 17, therefore, the number of legs can be increased subject to their spacing at equal angular intervals. In device 10 shown in FIG. 1, each radial leg is separated from the next by 120 of angular arc. To provide means for opening a given container, the terminal portion of each radial leg 12 is provided with concave edges 13. Each of the concave edges 13 can be provided with a concave indentation 14 of a predetermined radius at the top portion of concave edges 13 whereby the opening of different sized containers is facilitated. The bottom surface of concave edges 13 is coplanar with the end surfaces of axial hub 11. One of the objectives of the present invention is to preclude damage to lid 18 of container 17 when same is being removed. By providing an arc of predetermined radius at each of edges 13, equal lifting force can be provided beneath the lid along the full transverse dimension of edges 13 thereby precluding the concentration of force at a single, narrow point of lid 13 and eliminating damage to lid 13 of container 17. In addition, to facilitate the placement of edges 13 beneath the protruding edges of container lids, concave taper 14 is provided each radial leg 12 at the terminus thereof. Concave edges 13 and concave tapers 14 provided each radial leg 12 adapt opening and closing device 10 for operation with containers of various predetermined sizes. Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention is adapted to operate with containers of standard size, namely, gallon, quart, pint and halfpint, concave edges 13 and concave taper 14 could be adapted to operate with containers of any size.

The bottom surfaces of radial legs 12 adapt opening and closing device 10 for performance of its closing function. As set forth hereinabove, radial legs 12 are separated by equal, angular intervals to provide an equal, downwardly directed force upon the lid of the container being operated upon. The present invention opening and closing device 10 can be used with standard size containers of the type typically used to store paint or like liquids. The portions of the bottom surface of radial legs 12 adapt same to bear upon the top surface of lid 21 of such containers 20 in a manner which will provide for the application of force around the periphery of lid 21 to cause same to be engaged by container 20. The bottom surfaces of radial legs 12 are provided with insertion members 15 for applying a force to the lids of the largest size containers that device 10 can be used with, typically a 1 -gallon container. Radially inward along each radial leg 12 are means for applying force to smaller containers. Surfaces 28 on radial legs 12 permit the present invention opening and closing device 10 to effect closure of one quart containers. The bottom surface area 16 of radial legs 12 directly abutting axial hub 11 permits closure of containers typically holding one pint or less. The form of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 have surface 16 tappered upwardly forming the bottom end of axial hub 11. An alternative form is shown in FIG. 3 wherein surfaces 16 on each leg 12 constitute a planar surface.

The topsurface of axial hub 11 has extending upwardly therefrom concentrically disposed force receiving member 19. The receipt of impinging force by force receiving member 19 will result in substantially equal distribution of the force to radial legs 12. The force asserted by each radial leg 12 is substantially equal and is directed downwardly upon lid 18 to cause lid 18 to be received and secured to container 17. A force can be imposed upon force receiving member 19 by conventional means such as a hammer.

Referring now to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the structure of the present invention container opening and closing device can be best seen. FIG. 3 illustrates a crosssectional view of radial leg 12. Each of the radial legs 12 are extended from axial hub 11 radially outward therefrom, radial legs 12 being disposed at equal, angular intervals. Axial hub 11 is substantially cylindrical with radial members 12 extending therefrom in a spoke-like manner. The bottom surface 16 is extended into and integral with the adjacent bottom surface of radial leg 12. A first downwardly opening annular channel 26 is disposed perpendicular to bottom surface 16, annular channel 26 having a predetermined radius relative to the axis of opening and closing device 10. The outer wall 27 of annular channel 26 is disposed downwardly beyond the horizontal plane of surface 16 to a terminus extending into a plateau surface 28. Surface 28 is co-planar with surface 16 and is concentric with the radius of annular channel 26. The outer edge of plateau surface 28 extends upwardly into downwardly opening annular channel 29. Annular channel 29 has a predetermined radius with respect to the axis of the present invention opening and closing device 10, annular channel 29 being concentric with respect to plateau surface 18. The radial distance across the annular channel 29 is typically larger than that of annular channel 26 to permit operation with larger containers, but the radial distances can be any predetermined size. Outer wall 30 of downwardly extending annular channel 29 depends from radial leg 12 to form surface 31 which is co-planar with surfaces 28 and 16. Surface 31 forms a portion of a circular arc having a predetermined radius with respect to the axis of opening and closing device 10, all portions of surface 31 being substantially parallel to respective'portions of annular channel 29. The outer edge of surface 31 depends downwardly from radial leg 12 to form insertion member 15. Insertion member 15 provides means to impose a downwardly directed force within the annular channel at the outer edge of a container lid, the operation of same to be described in detail hereinbelow. Insertion member 15 is concentric with surface 31 being radially outward from surface 31. Radially outward from insertion member 15 is surface 33 which is on substantially the same horizontal plane as surface 31 concentrically circumscribing insertion member 15, surface 31 and the annular channels 28 and 29 described hereinabove.

The terminus of radial leg 12 is substantially tapered to concave edge 31 as described hereinabove. The upper surface of radial leg 12 can be substantially straight, the profile thereof being suitable to provide sufficient strength to radial leg 12.

The present invention container opening and closing device 10 can be fabricated of conventional sturdy materials such as steel, but the preferred form thereof is fabricated of cast aluminum to reduce the full wight of the device. The manner of fabricating device 10 can be by conventional methods such as casting, the specific manner of fabrication not being part of the present invention.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the difference between the types of closing members shown therein can be best explained by reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. Referring first to FIG. 5, a partial cross-section of a container 40 and lid 41 therefor are shown therein. In addition, a portion of radial leg 12 in position to close lid 41 is shown in FIG. 5. Container 40 includes an annular partial top wall 42 that defines an upwardly opening annular groove 43 within which the upwardly opening annular channel 44 is securely engaged. The containers made to hold paint and other like liquids typically are manufactured to hold fixed volumes, namely, gallons, quarts, pints and half-pints, and meet certain standard requirements of the industry. The industrial standards establish the outside diameter for containers such as container 40 as well as the outside diameter of lids such as lids 41. The periphery of container 40 includes an extension of upwardly opening annular groove 43 to edge 45. Upwardly opening annular channel 44 extends to lip 46 on the outer portion thereof and to ridge 47 at the interior thereof. Pursuant to industrial standards, the circumference of lip 46 is predetermined based upon the volume of container 40. The vertical height of outer edge 46 and ridge 47 are shown in FIG. 5 to be substantially equal, but device 10 will operate even where unequal heights are encountered. Surface 28 of radial leg 12 is suitable to bear upon either or both of lip 46 and ridge 47 to provide a downwardly directed force thereon.

FIG. 5 illustrates the present invention device being received by a l-quart container 40. As mentioned hereinabove, radial legs 12 can be adapted to provide downwardly directed forces on containers of any size, but the preferred embodiment provides for use with standard size containers. When a downwardly directed force is imposed upon axial hub 11 of the present invention container opening and closing device 10, one third of the force will be applied to each of three predetermined positions through surfaces 28 of radial legs 12. As shown in FIG. 5, the force being transmitted through surface 28 will bear upon lip 46 and ridge 47 thereby causing upwardly annular channel 44 to be firmly engaged within upwardly opening annular groove 43 of annular partial top wall 42. Since the force is being equally distributed through radial legs 12, damage to lid 41 will be substantially precluded.

Referring now to FIG. 4, it may be seen that insertion member 15 is being received within the upwardly opening annular channel 55 of lid 56, lid 56 being seated within partial top wall 57 of the container generally designated by the reference numeral 58. FIG. 4 illustrates the use of the present invention device with the exemplary l-gallon container 58. In order to seat upwardly opening annular channel 55 within upwardly opening annular groove 59, a downwardly directed force through insertion members 15 must be applied. Since insertion members 15 on each of radial legs 12 is suitable to be disposed within upwardly opening annular channel 55, surfaces 31 and 33 will bear upon ridge 60 and lip 61 respectively of lid 56. Upon placing insertion member 15 within upwardly opening annular channel 55 and applying a downward force thereto through surfaces 31 and/or 33, upwardly opening annular channel 55 will become securely engaged within upwardly opening annular groove 59. The closing portion for the large gallon container 58 is of a difierent type than that provided for container 40 or containers of a smaller volume. The difference arises because of the need to place an opening concave edge 13 at the apex of radial legs 12 and to make the total device 10 as small as possible. The closing portion of radial leg 12 to be used for the large container 58 could be similar to that used for the smaller containers, but that shown herein is the preferable embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention container opening and closing device 10 provides an inexpensive device for opening and closing containers of a type used to hold paint and other like liquids. The opening portion of device 10 provides means for prying a lid of a container open without yielding substantial damage to the lid. Device 10 also provides means for applying force to predetermined points along the circumference of a container lid in a manner which would permit closure of the lid without damaging any portion of the lid. Since device 10 can be fabricated as a unitary structure, it is inexpensive to fabricate as well as providing a sturdy structure.

I claim:

1. A container opening and closing device for containers having a partial top wall defining an opening, the inner portion of the partial top wall defining an upwardly opening annular groove and a removeable lid including an outer annular portion depending from the outer edges of the lid defining an upwardly opening annular channel bounded by a lip portion and a ridge portion receivable by the upwardly opening annular groove, said device comprising:

receive an impinging force extending upwardly from and integral with the top portion of said axial hub and being concentric therewith; and c. radially extending legs depending outwardly and downwardly from the body of said axial hub at equal angular intervals about the body of said axial hub and having a top and bottom surface, a first portion of the bottom surface of said leg extending outwardly from the bottom portion of said axial hub and being integral therewith, a first downwardly opening annular channel of predetermined radius having an inner and outer wall disposed in the bottom surface of said leg adjacent said first portion, the outer wall thereof depending downwardly beyond said first portion and extending into a second portion co-planar with said first portion of the bottom surface of said leg, said second portion extending radially outward from the outer wall of said first downwardly opening annular channel, a second downwardly opening annular channel of predetermined radius having inner and outer walls disposed in the bottom surface of said leg adjacent said second portion, the artetsli ssasz rssrrgimrrili Ba s of the bottom surface of said leg co-planar with said first and second portions of said bottom surface, and an insertion member depending downwardly from the third portion on the bottom surface of said legs having a predetermined radius from the axis of said axial hub, the top and bottom surfaces of said legs tapering at the terminus thereof to form a substantially concave edge having a predetermined radius, said concave edges extending transversely across said legs and having a bottom surface substantially co-planar with said first, second and third portions of the bottom surface of said legs.

2. A container opening and closing device as in claim an axial hub having a Substantially cylindrical body 1 wherein three legs extend radially outward from the and co-planar top and bottom portions; b. force receiving means for adapting said device to body of said axial hub. 

1. A container opening and closing device for containers having a partial top wall defining an opening, the inner portion of the partial top wall defining an upwardly opening annular groove and a removeable lid including an outer annular portion depending from the outer edges of the lid defining an upwardly opening annular channel bounded by a lip portion and a ridge portion receivable by the upwardly opening annular groove, said device comprising: a. an axial hub having a substantially cylindrical body and coplanar top and bottom portions; b. force receiving means for adapting said device to receive an impinging force extending upwardly from and integral with the top portion of said axial hub and being concentric therewith; and c. radially extending legs depending outwardly and downwardly from the body of said axial hub at equal angular intervals about the body of said axial hub and having a top and bottom surface, a first portion of the bottom surface of said leg extending outwardly from the bottom portion of said axial hub and being integral therewith, a first downwardly opening annular channel of predetermined radius having an inner and outer wall disposed in the bottom surface of said leg adjacent said first portion, the outer wall thereof depending downwardly beyond said first portion and extending into a second portion co-planar with said first portion of the bottom surface of said leg, said second portion extending radially outward from the outer wall of said first downwardly opening annular channel, a second downwardly opening annular channel of predetermined radius having inner and outer walls disposed in the bottom surface of said leg adjacent said second portion, the outer wall thereof depending downwardly beyond said second portion extending into a third portion of the bottom surface of said leg co-planar with said first and second portions of said bottom surface, and an insertion member depending downwardly from the third portion on the bottom surface of said legs having a predetermined radius from the axis of said axial hub, the top and bottom surfaces of said legs tapering at the terminus thereof to form a substantially concave edge having a predetermined radius, said concave edges extending transversely across said legs and having a bottom surface substantially coplanar with said first, second and third portions of the bottom surface of said legs.
 2. A container opening and closing device as in claim 1 wherein three legs extend radially outward from the body of said axial hub. 